“Hey, Ariel. The girls are out back hanging out. They love that deck.”
“I’m sure you don’t mind seeing them sunbathing on it, either,” she said.
His face turned pink, and she laughed. “You are adorable,” she said, pinching his cheek. He growled at her playfully and she giggled. She knocked on the door before she stepped out back. The girls were lying in deck chairs in bikinis with books and mp3 players. Once they’d gotten acclimated to the situation, they’d taken advantage of the free vacation.
Four heads tuned in her direction.
“Hey, girl!” Karla said setting her book down and standing.
“Hi. I have something really important to talk to you girls about.”
“Oh, God,” Nic whimpered. “Have they found us?”
“Exactly the opposite. Their business was destroyed in a fire, and while it’s not official yet, their bodies were recovered on site…in pieces.”
“Oh sweet Jesus,” Lorene whispered.
“None of you have to worry about them coming for you. It’s really over this time,” she said sinking down to sit on the edge of Maddie’s chair
“After all this time, they’re gone,” Maddie whispered.
“I hope they died screaming,” Nic hissed viciously.
“I’m glad they’re dead. Jail would’ve been too kind after all the things those bastards did and got away with. Things no one would ever be able to charge them for. I know we’re not the only ones. Those women who took the money were scared. I don’t look down on them. This way they’ll be avenged too,” Maddie said.
“We need to contact them,” Karla said.
“We can help you with that,” Ariel promised.
“Is this real?” Nic said.
“You know I’d never get your hopes up if it wasn’t one-hundred percent,” Ariel said gently. Nic’s lower lip trembled. Her delicate features scrunched, reminding Ariel of a bunny, and the tears began to flow. With her large brown eyes, tiny nose, brown hair and pink lips, she reminded Ariel of Snow White.
Karla and Lorene moved to Nic’s side, wrapping their arms around her as they let their own tears flow. These women had been through so much together. Maddie leaned her head against Ariel’s shoulder and she stroked the woman’s auburn-colored hair, giving silent comfort. It was the end of a reign of terror and the start of life on their own terms.
“Are you guys going to be okay?” Ariel asked a few minutes later.
“Yeah, I think for the first time in what feels like an eternity, we will be,” Karla said.
“Tex is here if you need anything. I have to go deliver this news to Juliette.”
She patted Nicole’s shoulder and left the cabin, feeling like Santa Claus passing out presents. She pulled a phone from her back pocket.
“Hey girl, what’s going on?” Juliette said.
“Entertaining myself while Hawk is in church. Do you have a minute for me?”
“Always. You want to come this way, or you want me to come there?”
“I’ll come to you. Be there in like ten?”
“See you then,” Juliette said.
Ariel immediately hung up and called the other girls, asking them to meet her at Juliette and Shooter’s cabin.
“What’s going on?” Joey asked as she approached from the opposite direction.
“I have some news on our situation and I want us to be together for it,” Ariel said.